A New "Best" Ultra-Budget Beginner's Telescope? Review of the Orion Observer 134!

Is there a new Ultra-Budget King in town? Yes! The Orion Observer 134 gets most of it right, and it's a pleasant surprise!
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[@DetroitMetroSpotter_21L]

I love just seeing those massive Meades standing in the corner just like “ONE MORE REVIEW ED AND THEN WE WILL LET YOU LEAVE!!”

[@hcic9860]

Whenever I've done any research on this Scope, I continuously notice one thing: EVERYONE mentions this review by Ed Ting. 😂 Because of this review, i went out and purchased it myself. I absolutely Love the scope and after one small "alteration" to the mount, this thing is rock solid. I've been trying to find a motorized tracking drive for the mount, but unfortunately it's on back order for almost another month and a half. My guess is this video most likely played a pretty big part in why so many people have been ordering it. Orion needs to give Mr Ting a check for the service he's done for them. Excellent review, Thank You!!!

[@heyjoe556]

My wife got me this model for Christmas after I showed her this video. I wanted a "little more" (like 2" eye piece capable) but so far I am very excited she got it! It looks & feels way more expensive than it is... and it is Ed Ting approved!! I am 62 yrs old and have always wanted a telescope since I was a kid. Wifey got sick of hearing it and pushed me in! The mount is amazing from a beginner standpoint. I have not used it yet as it is still too cold in MI for a newby to venture out but I am even more anxious for warmer weather. The finder scope is cheap plastic & was cross threaded and scewed but I think it's ok now. If not I will replace it with a red dot. I am going straight ahead and replacing the eye pieces now before spring... I have old eyes and wear glasses so I want some mid grade decent ones. Thanks so much Ed for all the videos, inspiration and info... you got me in!!! 😁

[@KandMAdventures804]

SvBony makes some decent budget eyepieces that are pretty good. I picked the 68 degree ultra wide angle(with the red rings) from amazon. I have the same scope as well. I also replaced the finder scope with the SvBony SV182 which I haven't had a chance to try yet but I think the right angle diagonal will be much more comfortable to use.

[@siberx4]

Absolutely incredible to see a beginner recommendation that isn't a dobsonian. It's definitely nice to not have to deal with the height problems associated with all the smaller "tabletop" dobs, and it's exciting they've somehow made a light-ish weight equatorial mount that isn't god-awful. The fact that the scope uses standard rings and vixen plate is a great touch too at this price point, no idea how they managed to cram that in instead of just bolting a plate of some sort directly to the tube.

[@golookup]

Celestron 102AZ is a great beginner scope (Alt-az, no collimation required, but chromatic aberration making high power on Jupiter and Saturn disappointing).

[@papapotato1875]

I got one a year ago and loved it. And one thing you can do to get a more stable tripod is to remove the extended legs and open the top cap to fill it up with gravel that you can get at a gardening department, to get a heavier tripod. Another thing is that the included tripod and mount pairs extremely well with smaller scopes.

[@ThomDoonan]

Thanks for the idea. I added a hook to the bottom of the eyepiece tray and hang a grocery bag with 4 cans of beans to help stabilize it. This helps to get the vibration to subside quickly.

[@joeparham2889]

I bought an Orion 90 mm astroview about 5 years ago and the optics are very good! The tripod is cheap but the view is very sharp. Thanks for the video!!

[@mudbuckets8902]

This is the scope I started with, had amazing contrast

[@joseph181516]

Would you say this one i sbetter than the Sky-Watcher Heritage 150p Tabletop Telescop ?

[@edting]

I like the 134 better because you don't have to find something to set it on.

[@Upnorthof48]

This baby just came in the mail! It looks beautiful, and I’m very excited for a clear night. Did have to collimate from the shipping experience, and it took only a minute or two. Love Orion scopes. Thanks Ed for your channel, it’s excellent.

[@Medicated1]

Ed, I wanted to reach out and thank you, I started watching your channel about 8 months ago. I don't own a scope, but your enthusiasm for the hobby helped me to buy my first starter scope. (Skywatcher 102 doublet startravel AZ3) I should have it either tomorrow or Monday. I don't know if you know what your channel means to people, but I have learned so much from you. (I don't call them lenses, I call them eyepieces) Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your passion for the hobby. We didn't have an astronomy club in my small Northern Ontario town, so I started one, and a facebook channel for our small group. Yours was the first astronomy channel I followed. Once again, thank you so much!!

[@Sarvamitham]

Congratulations. Keep up the good work .

[@ceejay0137]

Hi Ed. Nice review, and it looks like an excellent first telescope for a beginner. One extra thing you could talk about, especially in reviews of equipment for beginners, is the quality and usefulness of any manual that is supplied with the instrument. Having a good set of clear instructions for assembly and use can save a lot of trouble and worry for someone who isn't familiar with telescopes.

[@SaneGuyFr]

it looks like celestron powerseeker 127eq but much better

[@PafMedic]

😂

[@millenialfalcon8243]

Hey Ed, looking for a comparison review between the Observer 114 and the Starblast 114. Noticed they have lightly different focal ratios. f4.4 vs f4. Since there are no 1.25" coma correctors that I know of, I'm guessing the f4.4 might be the better option.

[@edting]

Get the Observer, because it has a better mount. Remember, in a cheap scope, it's all about the mount.

[@abdrywallrepairspecialist5184]

You are a genuinely good soul. Thanks Ed

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I just get worried when newbies get EQ mounts. They often don’t take the time to understand them. AltAz is the way for visual observation.

[@LandoBassMan]

Thanks for the great review ed! Me and my dad have been watching your videos and they have informed my decision to buy this scope very nicely. Thanks for being a great influence on the hobby.

[@jasonpatterson8091]

This is actually on sale right now for $210. That's just insane. It's cheap enough that I'm honestly concerned about things like worker and environmental conditions in its manufacture. Do we have any idea who Orion has making this thing in China?

[@edting]

That thought crossed my mind too. In today's inflationary environment the price of this product has (at least temporarily) gone down 25%. Wow.

[@mikess308]

Hey Ed, can you suggest some eyepieces for upgrade? Im purchasing this telescope as I type this.

[@kasa6038]

Try the included eyepieces for a while. This will give you an idea of what focal lengths you like. I would then recommend a Celestron X-cel LX of your size preference for ~$100. They are excellent for the money and not too heavy. A heavy top of the line eyepiece will probably not stay steady in that focuser. @@mikess308

[@baileyslater2599]

Thats not cheap😢

[@Astronomer118]

​@@baileyslater2599 For a good telescope these days it is

[@donaldmiller8152]

Thank you for your honest review which in turn helped me decide to purchase one. I’m now waiting for a collimator for it. I’m a newbie and look forward to getting into astronomy.

[@calmcaseyasmr]

Aww I can not find where to buy this telescope in Australia 😢

[@BobLu]

Why not the updated 130ST? I always believe the original 130ST EQ is the king of ultra budget EQ Newt kit. (Starblast II EQ's EQ1 mount is totally unacceptable IMO.) And now there is a updated version. It finally has a dovetail. It comes with a red dot finder rather than the small finder scope which can be quite hard to use. And as long as the modernized Eq2 is as good as Orion's older Eq2, it is fine. I don't believe so-called EQ3 is meaningfully stronger. Even the slow-mo knobs (which, if I remember right Ed you hated them a lot) are "larger knobs with short and hard stems" style which I feel is much better. The tripod legs are finally stainless steel tube style. Even the tripod spreader and tray is of much better quality than what Observer 134 has. They are a bit more expensive at $280 but Orion officially refurbished ones are $210+$10. Any thoughts on this one?

[@jwg9338]

Not a fan of equatorial mounts for beginners, not very intuitive. Can it be setup in alt-az mode?

[@JCW86]

yes it can. you can look up how to adjust an EQ mount to AZ setup on youtube.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Just made a link to this review in my review of the Orion Spaceprobe 130mm Reflector.

[@Fareedhussain-r2k]

I really love seeing stars and I thought to do my research first to see what is a good one for beginners and I found one but it doesn’t even ship to the location I am in. It can ship it to Australia, how else am I supposed to get one if it doesn’t even get shipped here😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@joewiggins4956]

Ed's link to Amazon shows a price of $209!

[@edting]

$209, wow!!!

[@ziggyfrnds]

Always a good day when Mr Ed uploads! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

2:10 - it would have been interesting to see a side by side image comparison between the 90 mm refractor and this Newton telescope.

[@senterpoint]

What a surprise! Bought mine a year ago. Suggestions, adjust the focuser tension, get a large plastic clip from Hobo Freight and put on the knob for finer adjustments. Dump the 10mm and get a 2x Barlow. After setting up, tighten the Allen bolts in the tripod legs. reduces wiggle. Would love to upgrade the focuser, but could not find anything decent or cost effective. I'll live with it until I upgrade the whole scope.

[@Erniej270]

Enjoy your videos, this one is no exception. My only concern with this setup is the EQ mount. Alt-Az is a much better option for beginners.

[@edting]

Yes. The problem here is the industry has completely abandoned us by not producing a quality alt-az mount in the ultra-budget category. Look at the lower end of the Orion catalog. The alt-az mounts are all flimsy yoke mounted junk.

[@iitjeeaspirantija]

​@@edtingsir, I'm in India and here ,no orion scopes are available. Skywatcher is available but at double prices A worthy opponent of this scope(orion134) which you reviewed is A startracker(indian brand) 130/650 it's mount is okayish and has a spherical mirror . It needs a barlow for prime focus Other than that A explore scientific 130/600 Parabolic mirror and prime focus without barlow attachment is available at prices cheaper than usa😅. Could you please see it it has eq3 Explore scientific 130/600 nanoeq3 Thank you

[@dwarvenmoray]

I bought one of these with the planisphere, moon map, & red light about a year & a half ago for $270. It was my first actual telescope ugrade from department store grade, & I absolutely adore this thing. I later bought a larger right angle finder to reduse strain when switching from finder to eyepiece, butbother than that I haven't had any problems with it. My girlfriend & I will get it out every so often when it's a clear night or we'll take it on a drive to less light polluted areas & still don't get tired of it.

[@StereoSpace]

You know Ed, I think you could review a monocular and I'd watch. Your videos are always fun and interesting. Thanks for making these. I know a lot of work goes into them.

[@ziggyfrnds]

He's actually made a monocular video (well not exactly, it was about internet budget hoax telescopes/monoculars) And we all watched, it was great 😃

[@nonegone7170]

There's a 'knock-off' version of this as well in 152mm (6 inch), which is quite nice for the price. it's definitely on the upper limit of what the mount will handle though.

[@k.h.1587]

There was another guy on youtube who reviewed this and HATED the mount, for reasons like the dec slo mo not following the ota and it being hard to reach the control in some positions. He had the knobs wrong, the long one on the ra and the short one on the dec. I was SCREAMING inside. But of course this guy has comments turned off on all his videos. There has never been a shortage of bad information on the internet unfortunately. And dunning kruger makes very convincing arguments to their uninformed audience

[@Motivated-Daily1]

Another amazing review Ed! I've been watching your reviews all day😂

[@kingcraven8056]

OK inexpensive 90mm refractor sparks my interest. Easy to pack and if it falls off a cliff I won't have tendency to jump after it.

[@bamaknifeguy]

Fantastic video. Thank you very much. I am looking for a telescope for my son currently and this is perfect. Checks all the boxes.

[@PafMedic]

Nice Looking Set Up,I Started With The 114LCM,Looks Similar To My Exos Nano From ES I Paired With My Mak90,Great Review Ed Thank You❤🔭❤️Clear Skies

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I own one of these. Fairly nice low cost Newtonian reflector. I bought the right ascension motor for it. Both cost me $319 at Amazon. Motor drive works really well if the scope is properly aligned. Main problem with the rig is you have to use a Barlow lens to gain focus with a ZWO ASI183mc camera. Secondary problem is lack of standard finder scope mount. I had to jury rig to add a standard mount and add a 90 degree 9x50 finder scope. Tired of wresting with the equitorial mount, so I placed it on a Sky Watcher AZ GTi go to mount.

[@golookup]

I agree with the EQ comment. There are so many options (AZ GTi, etc., manual Alt-AZ, and I think Starsense Explorer really opens the sky to beginners).

[@skiinggator]

Yeah, for some reason, they didn't use the standard dovetail mount for the finder scope. The extension legs on the tripod also get a bit wobbly. Otherwise, decent size scope for the price.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

@@skiinggator Don't know about extension legs. Always do my sky watching sitting down and never extend legs on any tripod.

[@golookup]

@@skiinggator ((I have a Gators Ski Club patch on an old jacket of mine))

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

Like! For 300$ I purchased a 102/1000 mhz achromatic refractor with EQ3, I didn't wanted to bother with collimation.

[@JCW86]

collimation is pretty quick and easy, and doesn't have to be done often unless you're rough with a reflector.

[@philipthemaddenman]

Hi Ed, Hope you are well. just wanted to ask what would some better eyepieces be for this telescope. I just got my first telescope 2 months ago (Orion 130st eq) and it came with the same 10mm and 25mm eyepieces. What would you recommend as upgrades to those? The equatorial mount did take a few nights of getting used to but I must say it was worth the slight hardship now that I figured it out. Thanks, Phil

[@edting]

Right now, don't buy anything. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. Keep using the scope and in a year or so you'll know what you need, and won't be needing any advice from me. Keep going!

[@philipthemaddenman]

Much Appreciated! I think the biggest thing is getting to an area of low light pollution. Here in southeast Connecticut it’s fairly bright. Any suggestions on viewing spots here in the northeast?

[@jamesbahn]

Excellent advice!!!@@edting

[@k.h.1587]

When you are ready to upgrade I suggest the explore scientific 24mm 68degree or televue 24 panoptic, which give the maximum field of a 1.25" eyepiece and are sharp to the edge (the televue being a little better than it's es clone), es prices are a lot higher than they used to be, but meade used to sell the series 5000 swa which had the same optics as the explore scientific, which is unfortunately now the exclusive source for that particular eyepiece series. A used meade will cost considerably less. I also suggest any version of the meade 8.8mm UWA, and the 5.5mm or 4.7mm UWA. That seems like a super high power eyepiece, but at around f5 it is not too high of a magnification, as it would be on a cassegrain, or long tube refractor or reflector. I think they are discontinued, but can be found used. I used to have the 5.5, and found it to be very comparable to a type 6 nagler, at least when using it with my 7mm type 6 nagler, it was the same quality of view and comfortable eye relief, just at a higher magnification. Many say the 5mm nagler is a star in the series, and in that case might slightly edge out the 5.5mm meade, but I only had a 7 at the time. All of my gear was stolen so I don't have them anymore, but I do now have a 4.7mm which was the older version with the same optics as es82 degree, and it is a decent performer, also a copy of the type 6 nagler design like the es82 are in the smaller focal lengths. The larger ones seem to be more like the type 5 naglers, but those are 2" and irrelevant to the orion 134. A really nice set for that scope would be a 4.7 or 5.5uwa/es82 (you don't need both), an 8.8mm uwa/es82, and the 24swa/es68. If you get all crazy fiddly like many of us do, and want the ability to go in-between magnifications, a 6.7mm UWA/es82, or 7mm nagler (type1 can be found for lower price, sometimes as low as $100), and a 14mm UWA/es82, or 15mm celestron axiom lx or luminos are good compliments, and you might not want to have nothing between the 8.8 and the 24. The 13mm type 6 nagler is the Uber premium option but very expensive. I would not suggest the massive 13mm type 1 nagler or older version meade series 4000 14mm eyepieces for that plastic focuser, stick to the smaller ones. Some might say that is overkill, but if you get a chance to go to a star party and try any of these, and can appreciate the well corrected wider fields, consider it an investment as you will use them as you upgrade to a bigger dob. If you go to an SCT, the 4.7/5.5 will be at the theoretical limit of those f10 scopes, but the other ones are all very usable, especially the 8.8, 13/14/15 and 24mn. If you just want a lower power, brighter view than the 25mm, a 32mm plossl is a good choice, and you don't need an expensive one, a $30-40 celestron omni or orion Sirius plossl is a good one. They are also the widest field in a 1.25" eyepiece, but at 52degrees instead of 68, same true field but at a brighter, lower power. Also consider long eye relief, more moderate 60deg field eyepieces, which are available in many brands and price points, as a lower cost alternative to the 82deg eyepieces in the higher powers, that also have more eye relief than the 82deg eyepieces. Such as the celestron x-cel LX series, and other brands of "long eye relief planetary" eyepieces as they are typically referred to. But me personally, I like the really wide stuff, and only break out the low power plossls when I need a bigger exit pupil than is possible with the lowest power widefield for the given focuser size of the scope I am using. 32plossl 24 5kSWA/es68/panoptic 15mm AxiomLX/luminos OR 14mm 5kUWA/es82 OR 13mm Nagler6 8.8mm 5kUWA/es82 7mm Nagler 1 or 6 OR 6.7mm 4k or 5kUWA /es82 5.5mm 5kUWA OR 4.7mm 5kUWA (there is a 4kUWA and a 4.8 nagler1, but both of these have very short eye relief and are not very comfortable) 4k= meade series 4000 5k= meade series 5000 ES82/ES68 = explore scientific 82 and 68 degree series. Axiom LX and luminos are celestron's 82 degree offerings, the axiom LX was the same optics as the ES/5K, the luminos is not quite as good but close enough for government work.

[@Fb_yt-el3zc]

Hi ed. for a 550€ budget (It's going to be my second telescope) should i get an 8inch dob? or maybe a 150/750 from omegon? help me please.

[@edting]

If it's your first scope, I will always recommend the 8" Dob!

[@scott4315498]

I think a short tube refractor is a good option for a kid or a beginner. For people on a very tight budget Explore Scientific makes the Explore Firstlight 90×500mm Alt-Az refractor that is a really decent scope for an incredibly cheap price. I picked one years ago for around $160. It's definitely not a high-end scope, but to get someone started in the hobby it is great for some wide field views while casually observing, and learning the basics.

[@Icharis]

I’ve been watching your other videos where you recommend that 8 inch dobsonian….. I have found some for around 200-300 dollars used and was thinking of getting one but now I just saw this video. My goal is to be able to look at planets and some deep space stuff eventually working my way into astrophotography. This looks like something I can build towards that in the future vs the dobs… I’m sure your bombarded with questions and appreciate any recommendations. One other item my 6 year old is REALLY into space , blows me away with stuff he spits out on galaxy types names and even star types… pretty advanced for his age and I’m pretty sure he would like to look at those also so need to keep it kid friendly. One of my observations is the height of these things are not friendly for little kids. Also he’s done moon stuff with a tiny department student grade that causes more dissatisfaction than enjoyment so I really want something he can use too.

[@edting]

No debate on this one - get the Dob. This Orion 134 is a budget scope and can't compete.

[@davidtimbro3677]

Just bought the last one from Amazon! 1st telescope

[@edting]

Nice. Someone just told me they just bought one off Orion's "clearance" section for $174. Wow.

[@michaelkirkner549]

What would you recommend as an alternative, since Orion just recently closed it's doors in California?

[@edting]

Sad situation. I'm back to recommending the good ol' 6" or 8" Dob.

[@dmb2951]

currently: Was $249.99 Now $209.99 You Save $40.00

[@edting]

Yeah, that's quite a bargain!

[@tomkirby3281]

I, too, would worry about the focuser, especially with some of the heavier eyepieces out there. I have a StarBlast 102 refractor and have to limit the weight of the eyepieces I use, for fear of overloading it.

[@kevinlytle6215]

I would like to know if the mount is good to use for other scopes even a bit heavier? Reason: for the price you get a good mount and when you get a better similar type scope or something else if you can re-use the mount it makes it really worth it!

[@edting]

The main attraction of the mount is it's much better than what you normally find at this price point. But it's far more likely the opposite will happen - you'll remove the optical tube and put it on an even better mount.

[@KandMAdventures804]

@@edting Suggestions for an upgraded mount? I am now partial to the EQ mount. Also do you think that upgrading the plastic tube rings would help with the wobble?

[@biggestdb7735]

I’m getting my first telescope and don’t want a big dob to start with. Would you start with this or the starsense explorer dx 130az?

[@edting]

A 6" or 8" is still miles ahead of this scope. If you have the money, get the Dob.

[@HussOnTheBeat]

Just gained a subscriber friend.

[@WILLAGMARKETS]

Ok .... when you tossed on the low power tele vue what were your thoughts???

[@franny5295]

On the off chance you see this: Can you suggest something small enough to take camping? I have a 7 year old boy and his interest in stars begins and ends at the fact that we can see them at night. But it's fun when we're camping and there's not a lot else to do. It needs to be portable and sturdy enough to not break with bumps that come with traveling in the car.

[@edting]

The issue with any travel scope isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. That's where people get tripped up. Good, steady mounts are not light or portable. If you can find and Orion Starblast it might work but you have to find something to set it on.

[@A0111.]

Long focuser means 2 things: - Secondary mirror (obstruction) is bigger, compared to if the focuser was usual + It's possible to replace standard long plastic extension with some thread adapter(s) to screw t-ring and (probably) reach focus with a DSLR

[@cagn217]

Exactly my though! Around 4 years ago I purchased my first and only telescope (SpaceProbe 130ST) and I needed to move the primary mirror which is not an easy task for an inexperienced person. This new telescope could make that way easier just like you said, cheaper and with a better mount!

[@yashadityapaul]

is this portable inside a suitace plz answer.

[@grahambohl5205]

Ed. You are a legend.

[@stephenkwong4458]

Ed, have you considered reviewing the Celestron Omni AZ 102 available at Costco for $220? 4" achromat with slow mo alt az mount. Has 2" focuser too. I picked one up last year for $160 during Black Friday. Seems to be a good deal to me. Also since it's at Costco, it's readily available to lot of folks and they may wonder if it's good.

[@golookup]

Yep, those are my recommendation for best scope for beginners (under $250). They're capable and easy to use, and far more portable than a dob (my general recommendation is an 8" dob, especially if they come up for sale cheap on craigslist)

[@JCW86]

do you see any false color on things like the moon, jupiter, saturn?

[@golookup]

all you see is false color on Jupiter and Saturn :) Jupiter washes out at 40x or so, Saturn a little better. But enough to see moons and two bands on Jupiter and the rings. It's really the one thing the scope does not do well. @@JCW86

[@k.h.1587]

​@@JCW86yes, there will be false color. A fringe filter can help, but gives a yellow tint, more expensive filters like the baader semi apo are an option, but they aren't very cheap

[@joemorgan1604]

How do I find the Polaris? I’m new at this and don’t understand how to do this. Thanks. Suggestions?

[@KandMAdventures804]

There are a lot of good youtube videos that show you how to find Polaris. If you can find the Big Dipper you should have no problem.

[@mountainhobo]

This is a total newbie question. Since you also recommend Dobsonians as simple telescopes, good for beginners, what would be the difference in view between this and something like a 6" or 8" Dobsonian? Ignore the difference in price and portability.

[@edting]

If you have the money, go for the 6" or 8" Dob, no question. This telescope is an ultra-budget alternative for those who cannot afford anything more expensive. It is not perfect but it beats the other ultra budget gear out there.

[@mountainhobo]

@@edting Thanks!

[@joshuamarks7181]

Great video for beginners like me, I’m looking for my first telescope and this was the video I was looking for. I have one question for you, I live 30 miles away from a city and on the light pollution map I am bright red, is that gonna have a heavy effect on my viewing?

[@edting]

Any light pollution will degrade the images you see through the telescope. Start with the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Those are bright enough to burn through. There are some bright deep sky objects that will show up under mild light pollution, like the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. For best results, get to the darkest location possible.

[@joshuamarks7181]

Awesome, thanks for the response

[@Softnutt]

cant get that where I am , would the BRESSER Pollux-II 150/1400 be as good?

[@edting]

Do not buy that! It is Bird-Jones junk. See if they have a "straight" Newtonian in that range.

[@Softnutt]

Thank you , that was close@@edting

[@carstenaltena]

Great review! Alas, this will not ship to The Netherlands... what would be a good alternative?

[@edting]

Yes, that is a problem. See if you have the Zhumell Z114 where you are (same as our Starblast). Sometimes people in Europe have access to things we don't have here. Try Bresser, Konus, and other brands. Try to stay away from junk!

[@carstenaltena]

@@edting thank you Ed! Couldn’t find those brands except the Bressner brand and just ordered one. My first! Thank you.

[@tedbohrer6799]

It's not fair being poor and loving telescopes. I can't afford what I want - a 7" Mak or C8 on a go-to mount, and upgraded eyepieces (2), and possibly an upgraded focuser and Barlow. So here's my latest question; Could I start my imaginary hobby (I doh't have anything yet) with this telescope, and along with it buy the upgraded 2 or 3 eyepieces now? Then months from now, if all goes well, upgrade the mount, then later yet, upgrade the scope?

[@charyhoo9345]

If you really love telescopes and don't have much money then do what I did. It was only a year ago I bought a second hand Skywatcher ST80 from eBay. It sat lowly on a camera tripod mount but week by week, month by month I added to it just by winning eBay auctions for this item and that item. Now it has a dual speed focuser, a side mounted 60mm guide scope converted into a right angled finder scope/mini telescope with the aid of a 2x Barlow to achieve focus. A 1.25" and 2" William Optics Durabrites also won in auctions for less than half there normal cost, laser pointer, William Optics red dot finder. It's fun spending time building it up over time and like you I am not actually flush with cash. I have what I have now through patience and building everything up slowly. If you just want something half decent to look up into the night sky then eBay is the place to find a bargain but do research what is being sold on eBay before you get anything as Ed would say there are a lot of junk scopes out there and a lot will end up on eBay just for that reason. Find out through recommendations what is a goer and keep an eye on eBay listings but don't be too keen to just get the first one that comes along. I remember once having some extra once in a blue moon cash once and spent £199 on a winning eBay auction for a Baader Hyperion MK4 zoom. A week later another was sold in auction for half that amount. I was gutted I didn't wait and that taught me patience. Some old timers spend their entire lives putting their gear together so don't be disheartened and just get what you can when you can 😁👍

[@deepakvenkatesh5166]

Thanks for your videos! what is your recommendation if one has to chose between a 6” f8 vs a collapsible 6” f5. Eg Apertura AD6 vs Sky-watcher heritage 150p. Objective is to view Messier objects and also travel around via a 3 row SUV

[@jaymz0235]

I have been considering getting this one but also have been looking at the Celestron 124LCM computerized/motorized telescope which is priced around $325 now. Which would you recommend for a first time owner telescope?

[@edting]

Do not buy that Celestron. That isn't nearly enough money for a computerized scope. The optical tube is the dreaded Bird-Jones type design, an automatic sign of junk. There's more but I don't want to pile on.

[@jaymz0235]

@@edting I truly appreciate you replying so quickly. I trust your advice, so, I will go with this Orion Observer 134 and will plan to eventually “graduate” to something else as I gain experience. Thank you!

[@MrPawPaw]

I’m totally new to this and was looking at the space probe 134st eq and then seen this video. The space probe is $100 more. Are you getting $100 more in worth? Both prices are in the budget so I’m not looking to skimp but neither want to spend $100 more if it isn’t really worth it. Appreciate any advice and thank you.

[@edting]

That Space Probe is very similar to the Observer 134. I'd get the Observer and save a bit of money. Be very careful at these low price points, there's a lot of junk down there.

[@MrPawPaw]

@edting thanks for such a quick response. I think I'll go on your recommendation and see where this leads. As long as I can see something up in the sky and it's not total junk it should fit the bill.

[@Blaze-vg3vi]

Hi Ed. Great video! I am looking for a a beginner telescope. Would you recommend this over a 6 inch dob? With this scope being about half the price I am not sure what to get.

[@edting]

No, get the Dob. This is an ultra-budget alternative for those who cannot afford to spend more. It is flawed but it will get the job done.

[@holdfastjoe8841]

The 2 inch eye pieces on the dob are great! You'll love the huge field of views you'll get from a 25mm eye piece. Just point it around some constellations and enjoy the amazing sky Remember to keep your finder eye piece oriented straight up from the scope. That will help as you slew it around tracking from a constellation star towards an object off to one side or the other. Try turning the finder and you'll probably notice its more difficult. Just a beginner tip I figured out but it could be a me thing.

[@johnpenn8444]

Ed, can you please recommend an eyepiece upgrade for this telescope? I’ve watched your eyepiece video but I believe this telescope falls pretty shy of the focal length you based your recommendations on in that video. Please!

[@edting]

My usual recommendation is not to buy anything for a while. The eyepiece is not your bottleneck here, it's usually the mount that causes you frustrations. If you must, replace the stock eyepiece with a TeleVue 25mm Plossl or a 19mm Panoptic. As you grow, those eyepieces will stay with you.

[@johnpenn8444]

@@edting thanks so much!

[@stevejohnson174]

That is why I sold my Starblast. You always need a platform from which to observe, which complicates the use to the point where you might as well pair it to a standard mount. Otherwise you are relegating into using picnic tables and park benches or milk crates that are not at all stable enough to use.

[@edting]

Yes. The older I get, the less tolerant I have become for tabletop telescopes. But that's me. Others do not mind.

[@charyhoo9345]

@@edting I love tabletop telescopes, well the mounts anyways. I have a Skywatcher Merlin tabletop mount that's a good display for my Celestron 90 SLT. I also got a Skywatcher Heritage 130p for £30. It got sold cheap on eBay because the previous owner accidentally cracked the mirror but £30 for its mount was a steal and now "displays" my upgraded Skywatcher ST80 refractor. Yes they suck for astronomy but the mounts are both handy for display purposes and useful if you want to point your refractor out of the window for daytime terrestrial viewing with a correct image 45 prism. Still for looking up I still intend to start with a Porta ii or Twilight 1 mount.

[@Fireinthestubble]

What would you suggest now since Orion is out of business?

[@edting]

Yeah, that's a sad situation. We're back to recommending any 6" or 8" Dob for now.

[@nuibit8868]

I just bought one and found I was spoiled by my old 70 mm refractor with a goto mount. I've learned so much in one night. I made some mistakes, I have to re-align my finder, and I have to calibrate my spotting circles as well since they're a bit loose.

[@nadirteymurov1]

Ed, is the primary mirror parabolic or spherical ?

[@edting]

The manual says it's parabolic.

[@kevinmanifold3108]

Hey Ed, thank you so much for your videos they have been very helpful and informative. I received this telescope Sunday and have already seen the lines of Jupiter on my 2nd night with the scope. Do you have any eyepiece recommendations for the Orion observer 134mm? Based on your eyepiece video i am thinking about a nicer 25mm eyepiece and also wanted your opinion on using a panoptic with this scope. Thanks for reigniting my interest in astronomy.

[@legendary_gameron6760]

I am astronomy lover since my childhood and I want to start looking at sky with a toll as I had been looking it using naked eyes and a app but I wanna upgrade. I have low bidget of 200 - 230 $ so what telescope do you prefer and can I buy one from Amazon. Also I live in such a city where there's too much smoke in winter while I travel from city to city too. (Empty highways are population less)

[@DandoPorsaco-ho1zs]

£516.94 in the UK ($655.82)!!!!

[@edting]

Yes, sorry to hear that. You're not the first person in the UK to tell me prices are high over there (Germany also seems very expensive right now).

[@Will-_-_-_77]

New subscriber here!

[@daveh7720]

I was looking at the Starblast II scopes on Orion's web site because of your recommendations, and saw they offered one on an equatorial mount with a motor. I was going to ask if you thought the motor was worth the extra $60 but you already answered that here. Plus the question is irrelevant now, since I want an Observer instead. Thanks!

[@deltacx1059]

I ended up grabbing the 114 version just for the mount and the mounting rings for my homemade refractor. But I will definitely use the scope as well.

[@jameskirk172]

134mm, not 130, not 127. Hmm. Kind of odd for Orion. I suppose it is better than 133.5mm.

[@karenamaya4624]

10:48 para un niño esta bien este modelo de telescopio 134mm..llegara a visualizar?

[@Nextsession271]

You've delivered again, as always. Another great comprehensive review!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. I think I'll purchase this telescope!

[@mike_98058]

Great review. How much shimmy in the scope when using the slow-motion contol? I wish you had tried some beginner photography with a phone mounted over the eye piece. Maybe a follow-up video. Beyond most beginners, IF I had this scope (or any scope), I would try photo stacking, and the manual slow motion would allow keeping the object in frame for a few minutes.

[@Tubeglowfun]

I've been curious if the Gskyer refractors are of similar quality to the Orion short tube 80. The mount doesn't seem terrible and it would be nice to find a kit so i don't have to track down a set of rings. They are both in the department store junk price range though. Are they worth looking at? Either the 80mm or the 90.

[@inertmission4427]

First 'serious' scope - the Celestron NexStar 5SE, no question. The industry's hidden gem. Even comes with a built in wedge - something very few talk about.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I use the 5SE mount for my solar scope and it’s brilliant. My night time scope is the C8. For my money, the very best hobbyist scope you can buy if you don’t want a gigantic dob.

[@golookup]

@@MikeLikesChannel Hi Mike. Yeah, a Nexstar 8 got me back into the hobby years ago, they're a great package. Light, portable, 8", and GoTo. If I had to go down to one scope (God forbid!), I'm not sure if I'd go Nexstar or dob. Both are so versatile.

[@JCW86]

I can't recommend a GOTO scope for a complete beginner, personally. I'd rather the beginner learn how to use a telescope manually than rely on something automated to do everything for them. Not to mention GOTO scopes tend to have errors and issues eventually that create problems to problem solve. I'd say either go with a scope like this or a 6 inch dobsonian if you have more money to spend.

[@inertmission4427]

I disagree. A beginner's first fault is wanting instant gratification. The 5SE provides enough 'guaranteed' sights to fuel the continued interest in the hobby. In addition, the 5SE is not the best GOTO scope on the shelf; and, working with that wedge takes some education and discipline...continuing the education process. I would never recommend a dobsonian for a beginner's first scope. Simply because of the size. You aren't taking that out in the field unless you own a car. One would hope that one's astronomy interest is sparked at an age prior to reaching the age to legally drive. Lastly; any one interested in the night's sky typically has spent enough time studying charts and maps before making that first purhase that I think the train of thought that the first scope be manually navigated is overkill.@@JCW86

[@speedbird3955]

Just ordered one on Amazon for $210.00 based on your review. Will report how it works out

[@edting]

$210, great deal!

[@speedbird3955]

Yes, thanks. What eyepieces would you recommend as an upgrade@@edting

[@speedbird3955]

Just received mine today👍

[@speedbird3955]

Used it for the first time last night, actually the first time using a telescope.The EQ mount took some time to figure out. I just set the latitude didn't actually polar align it yet and it was good enough to test it. Only viewed Jupiter and was pleased with the results. I could see some banding on Jupiter but no detail of course. Started with the 25mm eyepiece and switched to the 10mm for a better view. I am pleased, have much to learn, thanks Ed. @@edting

[@NicArnbrough]

I don’t suppose there is an equivalent in the UK?

[@edting]

That's a good question. I don't know what they're selling in the UK...

[@ldsklLtgmer]

They might be expensive but far cheper than a decent camera these days i mean you can get a 10 dob inch reflector far cheaper than aps-c camera with kitlens, so for a tube that size of 10 its a bargain compared to photo kit of the same size. However i cant seem to find anything in the night sky since im a beginnner, its just a sand to my eyes.

[@aryabhattarai]

Hello once again, I am planning to make a solar filter for this telescope with a proper solar film and some cardboard papers, how safe would you say this is?

[@forstreaming4210]

Thanks for the vid, I can't seem to find this scope in the USA or Canada. What else would you recommend for a beginner, I wouldn't mind spending an extra $100 to $150 for something that'll last a few years before upgrading.. I'm in Canada but don't mind buying from the US.. thanks

[@edting]

Orion shocked everyone by suddenly closing their doors a few weeks ago. If you're looking for a good starter scope, see if you can find a 6" or 8" Dob in your area.

[@forstreaming4210]

@@edting Thanks for the reply, there are a lot of Dobsonian telescopes, what brand would you recommend or avoid?

[@edting]

All that stuff comes from the same 2-3 places in China. The differences are not great. Just get one. I'll answer your next question too - don't buy any accessories. There's plenty to keep you busy for a long time. Stay away from silly colored filters, barlows, high power eyepieces, etc.

[@forstreaming4210]

@@edting Thank you very much for taking your time to help me out, I've been looking at the Sky watcher 8 inch

[@shrekshrek]

Can you do a review of the redcat 51?

[@edting]

That's a lengthy review! I'm not sure I'm up to exploring all its possibilities.

[@Zack-tn2xj]

Does anyone have a suggestion for an upgrade to the plastic focuser? I foresee smacking this thing off the tube the first time I move it from storage location to the drive way 😆

[@UTKARSH_LEGEND-u8n]

ED CAN I TRUST OFFICIAL WEB FOR PURCHASING ACTUALLY I AM FROM INDIA SO WILL THE DILIVER SAME SERVICE AS US.

[@simul8guy75]

Meade and Orion are bankrupt. Probably not a good recommendation anymore.

[@edting]

Yes, that is a very sad situation.

[@simul8guy75]

@@edting Agreed as I have a Meade ETX-125...

[@More.internet]

Hello, I’m a teen purchasing my third telescope and think I want this scope, but I think I just want the 114mm version, I honestly see very limited reviews on the 114mm version so I really just want to know what to expect from it as far as imaging, visuals, and quality.

[@edting]

I haven't seen the 114 yet, but reliable sources tell me the 134 is slightly better. The f/ratio is more forgiving, and sources tell me the 134 is more well made.

[@jackieblank4249]

Looks like a great scope to begin with Ed. First thing i would do is put a red dot finder on it and put that piece of cp fiinder back in the box it comes in and forget about it. Love my 6 inch Star Blast. Get to sit comfortable at my old age. May have to get one if the price is right. Looking for a 8 inch Apertura though.

[@richardmclaugfhlin65]

OK, what would you suggest to upgrade the focuser? I'm fairly handy with telescopes having built several, but I'm too old and weak to cart around a big dobsonian or even a C-8 outside on our few good nights in Oregon. Do you have any ideas for a better 11/4 or 2 inch focuser that could be adapted? Thanks for your great and comprehensive reviews.

[@edting]

Not too long ago, it was easy to find replacement telescope parts. These days it is almost impossible. You have to resort to ebay or Chinese sources, and even then the mounting holes and/or stack height may not match up.

[@tedbohrer6799]

What two replacement eyepieces would you recommend for my new Orion Observer 134? - it has only 660 mm focal length. I think you said eyepieces are for certain focal lengths. For example, for the 1500mm +/- focal length telescopes you recommend the 24mm Panoptic eyepiece to replace the original and for lunar and planetary use the 13mm Nagler 82 degree field of view. And there were two different eyepieces for the 2500mm and 3000 mm scopes.

[@edting]

I wouldn't buy anything for a while. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck at this point. If you must spend money, get a TeleVue 25mm Plossl to replace the stock eyepiece. If you must spend a lot of money, get a 24mm Panoptic.

[@mikemoran5439]

210 with a free microscope, so tempting!

[@russpeck1320]

Love your nice, reasoned reviews, Ed! Two quick questions about this scope if you are still reading the comments. Firstly, does this new EQ Mount convert to alt az mode like the older ones? Secondly, is the finderscope in a standard dovetail mount? I have a very nice right angle finder scope that I would like to put in there. Thank you!

[@edting]

You could technically set the altitude axis to zero degrees and use it as an alt az mount. I'd just leave it as is. The finder mount is what I call the "cheap standard". It's the one that appears on the Starblast. You can always drill your own holes for your finder.

[@xeon_one]

I have a question: What can you recommend for a decent amount that won't break the bank? For this particular telescope, The mount that comes with this 134 is horrible waggles way too much.

[@edting]

Actually the 134's mount is quite good for the money. Keep in mind all mounts will wiggle, even the $20,000 ones. Previous versions of budget scopes use EQ1 or EQ2 style mounts which are much worse than the one on the 134.

[@khalidrafiq8080]

Thank you so much for the video. I am hoping of gifting this to my 10 year old nephew. Just a quick question- would he be able to see the Saturn rings through it. I feel that is a fascinating image and gets you hooked. Also, is (134”) too big to carry in a suitcase to a airplane flight? Thank you so much for the video!

[@edting]

Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons are no problem. Forget about taking it on a plane. The idea of an airline portable scope is a big debate. The problem isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. You saw the size of the shipping carton, right?

[@fabianbarajas8497]

I have the little brother to this scope, the 114mm and I love it. So light and portab[e with great optics. My only complait is it has 2 scews instead of a vixen base plate for the finder scope. Otherwise a great scope.

[@edting]

Thanks for that. I'm hoping to get my hands on the 114 mm to compare to this one.

[@fabianbarajas8497]

I paid $200 for mine when it first came out a few months back. Now it's on sale for $149 with the same mount as the 134mm. A true bargain!@@edting

[@janjaf844]

What's the diff between the 2? Im a beginner and looking to buy one for my 10 year old she's been begging for one since she was 8

[@fabianbarajas8497]

I have the smaller one which is much lighter and perfect for a child.@@janjaf844

[@JSATI]

Great review Mr Ting. Although the price point is fantastic I will be purchasing the Orion Starblast 4.5 as a first scope for an eight year old. I believe the height will serve him better, appears slightly more portable, comes with a better initial finder scope, and he will not have the frustrations of learning the EQ mount as a beginner. I do have a question regarding the Orion Starblast 4.5 with its 450mm focal length. I plan to purchase a couple plossl eyepieces. A 10mm for a 45x magnification and would you have a recommendation between 5mm @ 90x magnification and a 3mm @150x magnification for moon/planetary viewing? Although I am aware Tele Vue eye pieces are the gold standard I will be looking for a mid tier eye piece in the "everything else category" Or Would you recommend different focal length eyepieces altogether? I have researched the library program (unfortunately, we do not have anyone offering this in my city) with this scope, and many are modified with a zoom eyepiece. Would this be the preferred method over two individual eyepieces?

[@edting]

Good job getting the Starblast. A couple of thoughts: 1) That thing is really low to the ground. Even a kid will need it boosted. You will need something steady and will need to watch to see the scope doesn't get pushed off. This is your major challenge (I'll note the Orion 134 avoids this problem entirely). 2) Don't get the 5mm/3mm eyepieces. That is way, way too much magnification. Neither the optics nor the mount can support that kind of power. I wouldn't buy anything for now. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. If you must, a TeleVue 20mm Plossl is a good replacement for the stock Kellner and won't break the bank.